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Why I Hate Valentines Day | ||||
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Category: Post-HBP, Post-Hogwarts Characters:Harry/Ginny, Hermione Granger Genres: Comedy, Fluff, Romance Warnings: None Story is Complete Rating: PG-13 Reviews: 30 Summary: Ginny writes an article in the Daily Prophet explaining exactly why she hates Valentines Day... Hitcount: Story Total: 8255 Disclaimer: Harry Potter Publishing Rights © J.K.R. Note the opinions in this story are my own and in no way represent the owners of this site. This story subject to copyright law under transformative use. No compensation is made for this work. |
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Sadly enough, this is based on some of my own feelings towards romance. Though someone once said that an author's bad experiences always make for a great story. Or maybe I just made that up. Enjoy :) Ginny Weasley walked down the halls of the Daily Prophet with a smile. Her colleagues shouted congratulatory greetings towards her as she passed their desks. “Great article, Ginny!” “Your story was wonderful!” “Fancy a dinner on Friday?” Aden called, giving Ginny a cheeky grin. Ginny paused at his desk and laughed. “You know I’m spoken for, Aden,” she said, wriggling her ring finger which held a silver engagement band. “Oi, I know. But it don’t hurt trying, does it?” Ginny simply laughed and finished the walk to her own desk, suddenly wrapped up in thoughts of how much her life had changed in the past three years. After Dumbledore’s funeral, Ron, Hermione and Harry had gone off as they intended to find the remaining Horcruxes and kill Voldemort. In the meantime, Ginny and the rest of the students had gone back to Hogwarts with Professor McGonagall as the Headmistress. The Horcrux search had only been going on for a year when one fateful evening brought Harry back to the castle in an attempt to rekindle his relationship with Ginny. The two kept their relationship private, and Ginny graduated from Hogwarts a year later without much fanfare. She went directly to work at the Daily Prophet and soon became a prominent writer for the paper; her insider stories on the progress of the war pleased the readers and she was able to be informative without putting Harry or the others in trouble. Finally, after the second year of searching for the Horcruxes, the three of them destroyed them all and Harry was able to come face to face with the Dark Lord. Harry had succeeded in killing off the evil wizard, and he had come home to Ginny and immediately proposed to her. Things slowly but surely returned to normal; Ron and Hermione had finally become a couple and Harry and Ginny adjusted to their engagement quickly. A combination of their fame, skill and connection to Oliver Wood earned both Ron and Harry prime positions on the Puddlemere United team as keeper and seeker, respectively; while Hermione had gone to work at the Ministry in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. The four of them were happier than they had been in years, though Ginny’s recent article seemed a bit contrary to that fact. Since joining Puddlemere, Harry hardly had time to take a breath, let alone spend much time with her. Ginny understood, and instead honestly did enjoy spending most of her evenings at practice or a game instead of dinner or a quiet night at home. However, she assumed that Valentines Day would be an exception. Valentines Day, the most romantic day of the year, had to be treated specially, right? Ginny soon learned that in Harry’s opinion, the answer to that question was no. When she approached him about their Valentines Day plans a few nights before, he had regarded her with a blank expression and then a regretful smile as he explained that the team had a huge match against the Wimbourne Wasps that evening that he simply couldn’t miss. Instead of becoming angry, Ginny simply sulked around for the rest of the evening until he had gone home. Then she found herself in front of several sheets of parchment with a quill in hand. Once she thought about it, she realized that she had never had a properly romantic Valentines Day. Every year something had gone wrong; the date had been forgotten, or she had no Valentine, or something which always seemed to make the holiday even worse than the year before. Realizing that this year would be no better, she found herself getting all of her frustrations out on paper. When she showed the write up to Hermione the next evening, she had no idea of publishing it in the paper, but her best friend convinced her. “Oh come on, Ginny!” Hermione squealed with excitement. “It’s such a good article! And just think- I’m sure there are plenty of witches in Britain that have had similar horrible experiences. Your article will be doing them a justice!” “Right. So they can feel less pathetic after hearing of my pain?” “Exactly,” Hermione had enthused. “Hopefully Harry won’t read it though. Might be a bit embarrassing-“ “We both know Harry won’t read it. He still thinks the Prophet is a load of rubbish, even though he knows I would never work for the paper unless they stopped printing crap stories. And anyway, he’ll be so busy with Quidditch practice that he won’t have time to read anything. Which is what got us into this predicament in the first place…” And with those final words, Ginny had decided to print the article after all. Now it was all the rage in the office, and word about Ginny Weasley’s hilarious article had also spread around the better part of the Wizarding community. Now, she finally reached her desk, and her neighboring colleague wheeled around in her chair to face her with a grin. “Ginny, I’ve just finished reading your article. Honestly, well done,” Padma Patil complimented. The former Hogwarts student had also snagged a job at the Prophet and she and Ginny had become good friends in the past years. “Thanks Padma!” Ginny returned the smile and opened a copy of the paper to the page her article was on. “Everyone keeps complimenting me on it.” “It’s really great. I’m sorry that Harry won’t be around for Valentines Day though. Seamus and I are going to take a Portkey to France for a fancy dinner at…” Ginny didn’t mean to be rude, but she simply couldn’t focus on Padma and Seamus’ romantic plans for the holiday. Though she had used her article to vent and make light about the fact that her Valentines Day would be, yet again, utterly dreadful, she truly did feel quite bad about the fact. This year would be hers and Harry’s first Valentines Day without the threat of Voldemort and Death Eaters looming around them, and they weren’t even going to celebrate. Perhaps a part of Ginny hoped Harry would read the article. She surely couldn’t mention something so trivial to him; he had tons to worry about with being the team’s Seeker, and the last thing he needed to think about was a way to make it up to her. Still, Ginny couldn’t help but feel a bit neglected as she thought of how she would be spending another unhappy Valentines Day. Her eyes slowly drifted to the newspaper, and she began to read her article. By Ginny Weasley As the title of my article suggests, I hate Valentines Day. Absolutely loathe it. I wish cupid, and all his stupid little arrows and lacy hearts would go shove themselves somewhere. Sometimes, on my more violent days, I feel as though I might go on a rampage through the offices here at the Daily Prophet and tear down every string of red lace that someone has hung around their desk. I want to go through Diagon Alley and scowl at every couple that has seemed to randomly sprout up out of nowhere; I feel like running down the streets and breaking apart every hand holding and snogging pair. Don’t worry, though. I’ve hated Valentines Day for quite some time now. I hate the stupid cards that people like to hand out, and the stupid way that everyone makes such a huge ordeal about the day. I hate the fact that Madam Puddifoot’s is everyone’s favorite place to spend the entire stupid holiday. Okay, perhaps I am being a bit harsh. I suppose Valentines Day could actually be quite nice for some people (the lucky, elect few), though it has never been for me. When I was a child, I never really cared. My older brothers weren’t quite old enough to have love interests at the time, and instead, my mum and dad would send the lot of us to our Great Aunt Muriel’s for the evening while they enjoyed a romantic night out (and good on them!). But I suppose my bad luck with Valentines Day began during my first year at Hogwarts. I had a crush on someone who will not be named (in fact, all names will be removed for the integrity of the gits I will refer to in this article), and I ended up sending him a singing valentine with truly dreadful poetry (there’s no better way to say “I love you” than comparing your crushes’ eyes to that of a “fresh pickled toad”…er, right?), which he rightly ignored. In my fourth year, my boyfriend forgot the holiday all together, and I spent a bitter evening in the girl’s dormitory with my best friend and her pet cat. Even my boyfriend during my fifth year managed to botch the day; he unknowingly bought me a bouquet of roses from my twin brother’s joke shop that blew up in my face when I held them, and then later suggested that we spend some “alone time” in his empty dormitory. I stalked away after punching him firmly in the jaw, and instead spent the evening riding around the castle on my broomstick. Now, I guess you could see why this year I was so excited for a proper Valentine. My fiancé (who will also remain nameless, though it’s not much of a secret, is it?) is finally home and we’ve been getting on great. Yet, once again, here I am, faced to spend the night alone- for the ninth consecutive year. I, Ginny Weasley, have received the shaft. That being said, I plead for all of my fellow witches (and even wizards) that are sick and tired of having a troll-like Valentines Day to stand up and fight back. Do as I plan to do next Wednesday night, and pull on some sweats pants, close up the shutters, block the fireplace, bake two dozen biscuits and wallow in your own self pity. Tell cupid to sod off because he’s had it in for us first. Embrace the fact that Valentines Day was a holiday made to make people feel pathetic, and learn to hate Valentines Day just as I have. After all, the less you care, the less it hurts, right? Ginny finished reading her article with a smile. Well, even if she would be spending yet another Valentines Day alone, at least she knew that she had bowed out in style. Ginny entered the office the next Wednesday with a dreadful feeling in the pit of her stomach. Valentines Day was here, and it seemed as though everyone in the office had forgotten all about her article. There were sickening public displays of affection in every corner, and she couldn’t help but frown when she noticed Padma’s empty desk. She flopped down at her own desk and sighed. Harry obviously hadn’t read the letter (not that she had been expecting him to. ‘Cause she definitely hadn’t counted on it. Hadn’t expected him surprise her or anything at all…), because he hadn’t said a thing to her the night before except that he’d Floo over to her flat after the match. Who cares about the bloody match? Ginny thought, violently kicking the side of her desk with the heel of her shoe. If he could’ve even been considerate enough to take me for brunch I would’ve been thrilled! Ginny’s editor, Clare, suddenly appeared in front of her and she plopped a freshly printed paper on top of Ginny’s desk. “What’s this?” Ginny asked, tearing her eyes away from a picture of Harry and herself on the day that they had gotten engaged. The two of them were merrily dancing in the photograph, and she was saddened to see that even her photo-self was having a better day than she was. “It’s today’s paper. Someone posted a response to your article from last week,” Clare said, raising an eyebrow. “A response?” Ginny repeated. “Who wrote it?” “Dunno. It was anonymously sent it, but too good for us to pass up. Have a look at it, then.” Ginny quickly flipped through the paper until she landed on the article. By Anonymous This article is a response to Miss Weasley’s article that ran in the Prophet last week titled, Why I Hate Valentines Day. Though I found all of her arguments to be valid, I still feel the need to back my favorite holiday. Valentines Day isn’t just a day for silly paper hearts and boxes of chocolate. Sure, it’s a great excuse to snog the bloody hell out of your girlfriend (if she’s willing), but to me, the holiday means so much more. At the risk of sounding sappy, Valentines Day is a day to show someone how much you really care for them. It’s a day to bring couples together, both new and old, and for them to express the love and joy that they receive from one another. Valentines Day is a day of appreciation and sharing emotions. It’s not a day that should be pushed aside or looked down upon. No matter how you spend your holiday, chances are there is someone that is thinking of you in a special way, even if it doesn’t seem so. Perhaps their schedule is simply too hectic, or maybe they just haven’t thought of the right way to surprise you yet, but there is no doubt that someone wishes they could be your Valentine. Instead of hating Valentines Day, why don’t we just embrace it? Why not grab your bloke and pull him out for a romantic evening on the town? And fellows, why don’t you skip a day at the office and take your bird out for a midnight broom ride? Instead of telling cupid to sod off, why don’t you give the poor guy a chance; after all, he might’ve forgotten to shoot you with his arrow last year, but he’ll be back the this time around and might be aiming directly for you. Ginny looked up from the article, expecting to see Clare there, but was surprised to see Harry grinning down at her instead. “No,” she breathed, a scandalized look on her face. “You didn’t?” Harry chuckled. “Well, I thought someone had to stand up for Valentines Day after the berating you gave it.” Ginny jumped up from her seat, her face turning bright red. “You mean, you read my article?” “Contrary to your beliefs, Gin, I’m not as thick as it seems- I do read the paper every now and then. Though honestly, it was Hermione who pointed me to the Prophet on that particular evening.” “Oh, Harry, I am so…I didn’t mean to embarrass you…I just-“ Harry held up his hand. “Why are you apologizing? If anyone needs to apologize, it should be me. I know I haven’t been around much since joining the team. I’ve been a neglectful fiancé and I deserved to read every bit of that article. Though I had no idea how your truly felt about Valentines Day.” Ginny raised an eyebrow. “Oh, and some of it was edited out. There was more…” Harry laughed and pulled her into a hug. “I’m sorry. I hope the article can serve as a bit of an apology; I meant every word. Though, I should’ve known better anyway.” Ginny looked up at Harry with a smile, and he leaned down to pull her into a loving kiss. She pulled away and gave him a questioning look. “So does this mean that you’re skipping the Quidditch game?” Harry shook his head. “No, but Hermione’s loaned me one of her time-turners, and there’s a picnic at the edge of the River Thames with our name on it. And we can stay there for as long as we want.” “Oh Harry,” Ginny cried, pulling into him another firm embrace. Clare suddenly reappeared and smiled at the happy couple. “Enjoy your evening off, Ginevra. You deserve it.” Ginny smiled at her editor. “Thanks Clare. And I’m supposing you were all behind this?” “Well, yes. Harry called me last night and asked if I wouldn’t mind printing a fake copy of the Prophet to give to you. Honestly, did you think I’d really print that rubbish? Harry’s isn’t exactly an award winning journalist,” she added with a sly wink. “Hey! I resent that!” Harry cried, and Ginny coyly pulled him away from the desk. “It’s okay, dear,” she consoled. “I’ve got the brains, and you’ve got the beauty.” Harry stopped and pulled her face close to his. “Nah. You’ve got the brains and the beauty. I’ve just got the luck.” “Oh, and why is that?” she grinned. “’Cause I was lucky enough to catch you,” he said, before capturing her into another kiss. Ginny smiled against his lips, not knowing what exactly lay ahead of them for the evening, but knowing all the same that if it was with Harry, it was bound to be special. And maybe next year she would actually look forward to Valentines Day. A/N: Happy Valentines Day! Thanks for reading, and please take time to leave a review (it makes me very happy!). Look for an update for WLTG on Friday or Saturday ;) |
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